Parcel of Pure Joy

I love meeting people and learning
about faraway places. 

Last week I was lucky enough
 to have a package arrive
all the way from
New Zealand
with the cutest and
most amazing contents.

If you know the names Julie Harrison or Kate Bruning or have visited the blogs Little Woollie or Greedy For Colour, then you will guess what this is!

It's Kate's first book, "Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon"

It came to me via Julie Harrison who hosted a giveaway on her blog Little Woollie. Everyone who left a comment was in the draw to win a copy of the book and I was lucky this time.

Thank you Julie! 

I do love bunnies and crochet, and have been following for some time the development of Stanley's adventures on Greedy for Colour, where Kate Bruning explains how she made "Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon".

Front Cover

I am so impressed and in awe of Kate's achievement. She has done everything–text, design, photography, crochet and crafting.  Kate Bruning is a very talented woman!


The photographs are delightful and filled with Kate's crocheted and crafty creations. Colourful text tells the story of Stanley the bunny whose love of balloons takes him on an adventure.

Back cover
I can certainly relate to this reference to 'naps'.
There are many days when I 'should be napping' but try to carry on instead.
I guess I have that in common with Stanley!

Kate Bruning's attention to detail is amazing and shines in every element of the book. When the storytelling is done, the second half of the book is full of instructions for you to make your own crocheted Stanley bunny and hot air balloon, and other crafted items and characters from Stanley's world.

A list of links and other resources for learning crochet and other techniques is a thoughtful addition if you have never crafted before.

Title page and inside front cover
I am frustrated that the book got bent and creased by a postie who insists on folding and bending everything he delivers.
He tries to fit everything into my letterbox's slot even though I have a shelf section for large envelopes and my front door is only 5 paces away!
Some initiative is needed on his part.
Meanwhile I don't bother with magazine subscriptions because I know they will get torn up before I can even read them!

With so many wonderful creations in "Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon", not everything could be included in the pattern pages. Never fear, for Kate is sharing more crochet patterns on her blog. 


Thank you so much to Julie Harrison for the opportunity to own this beautiful book and thank you Kate Bruning for your generosity! My family and I feel very privileged to have an autographed first edition of this joyful work of art. 

If you would like one too, I do believe there is another giveaway for a "Stanley Book" on Kat Goldin's blog, Slugs on the Refrigerator.

Also this week, Kate Bruning is giving away a crocheted "Stanley" bunny on her blog, Greedy for Colour, but you need to be quick as the winner will be announced this Friday (22 August 2014).  

Best of luck!

Links & References

Bruning, Kate, author, blogger & crochet designer: https://www.blogger.com/profile/04120178040634384642

Bruning, Kate, "Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon", first edition, ISBN 978-0-473-28160-1, Greedy for Colour Ltd, greedyforcolour.com, New Zealand, 2014.

Goldin, Kat, crochet designer, blogger, photographer, columnist: http://www.slugsontherefrigerator.com/about/

Greedy for Colour, blog, New Zealand: http://greedyforcolour.blogspot.com.au/

• "A Giveaway with Little Woollie", blog entry,  23 July 2014: http://greedyforcolour.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/a-giveaway-with-little-woolie.html

• "How Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon was Made", blog entry, 8 August 2014: http://greedyforcolour.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/how-stanley-and-hot-air-balloon-was-made.html

• "From the Stanley House–How to Make a Button Stool", blog entry, 14 August 2014: http://greedyforcolour.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/from-stanley-house-how-to-make-button.html

• "A Crocheted Stanley Rabbit Giveaway!!!!!", blog entry, 15 August 2014: http://greedyforcolour.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/a-crocheted-stanley-rabbit-giveaway.html

• "Sundays AND Another Giveaway–with Kat Goldin", blog entry, 17 August 2014:  http://greedyforcolour.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/sundays-and-another-giveaway-with-kat.html

Harrison, Julie, blogger, crocheter & online yarn store owner: https://plus.google.com/116088259947652400600/about

Little Woollie, blog, Australia: http://littlewoollie.blogspot.com/

• "Another Good Read and a Stanley Winner!", blog entry, 29 July 2014: http://littlewoollie.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/another-good-read-and-stanley-winner.html

Little Woollie Makes Yarn Store, online shop, Victoria, Australia: http://www.littlewoolliemakes.com.au/

Slugs on the Refrigerator, blog: http://www.slugsontherefrigerator.com/